The New England Patriots signed free agent place kicker Chris Koepplin. Koepplin, a UMass product, was with the Patriots in training camp in 2011 and was among the final cuts. He handled a bulk of the kick off duties in preseason games as Stephen Gostkowski worked his way back from a quad injury.
He did not play in the NFL in 2011.
The team also will be bringing back long time center Dan Koppen who missed most of 2011 with a season ending ankle injury suffered in Week 1 against Miami. The Boston College product was the Patriots 5th round pick in the 2003 NFL Draft. He is a former All-Pro, Pro Bowl selection and has played on two Super Bowl championship teams.
Defensive Kyle Love, an exclusive rights free agent, has reportedly signed his tender with the team. Love was a second year free agent and as an ERFA he had to take the Patriots offer at the 3-year veteran minimum salary of $540,000 or leave the NFL.
Last season Love had 33 tackles and 3 sacks and played in more than 50% of the teams defensive snaps.
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photo credit: AP Photo
